Reports: Harsin to be head coach at Arkansas State

AUSTIN — Texas co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin could be about to become a head coach.

According to the Rivals and Scout sites covering Arkansas State, Harsin will be named the next head coach of the Red Wolves on Wednesday. A Texas official said late Tuesday he could not confirm news of Harsin’s departure.

Although he shared coordinator duties with Major Applewhite for the last two seasons, Harsin was the Longhorns quarterbacks coach and primary offensive play-caller.

In 2011, his first season at UT after arriving from Boise State, the Longhorns struggled to move the ball with two inexperienced quarterbacks, finishing 54th nationally in total offense and 55th in scoring.

This season, thanks in part to improvement from quarterback David Ash, the Longhorns were 37th in total offense and 24th in scoring.

Harsin’s salary at UT was $675,000, and Arkansas State’s previous head coach, Gus Malzahn, reportedly made $850,000 per year. Malzahn left the Red Wolves to become head coach at Auburn earlier this month.

If Harsin leaves UT, Applewhite would be a top candidate to take control of the offense. The former Longhorns quarterback previously served as offensive coordinator at Rice and Alabama.